For anyone interested, I’ve added a page listing my percussion library with links to most of the material. A lot of useful studies, solos, method books and more for the new and experienced percussionist.
My Library
My Library
“Stick Anatomy” Update
I added a downloadable PDF of the Stick Anatomy page. Band Directors, I have other PDF’s that are specifically for beginning percussionists. If you use them, I would love to hear about it and any success stories, as well.
Rudimental Learning Sequence – breaks the 40 International Drum Rudiments into a suggested order for learning years 1-4
Care and Maintenance – how to replace and tune the batter and snare heads
Snare Drum Anatomy – yes there are actually names for all those different parts, and not many young drummers have a clue what they are called
Stick Anatomy – believe it or not a drumstick has 6 identifiable areas. Check it out!
Strube’s Drum and Fife Instructor Available Online
“Strube’s Drum and Fife Instructor” by Gardiner A. Strube (1869) has proven rather elusive to find online. But thanks to the diligence of Will Chappell, a PDF has finally been found. Download it here and enjoy.
Snare Drum Anatomy Download
One of my most popular pages by far is “Snare Drum Anatomy.” Today I have added a link to that page for a PDF download of the “Snare Drum Anatomy.” It is a single page and contains all the information found in the online version.
“Wrecker’s Daughter Quickstep”
“Wrecker’s Daughter Quickstep” from “Howe’s United States Regulation Drum and Fife Instructor” by Elias Howe (1861) has been added to Resources category under Rudimental Solos. Three downloads are available. The first contains the fife and drum parts with no dynamic markings, just as it is in Howe’s “Instructor.” The second download includes the fife and drum parts and dynamic markings as determined from online research of a different publication of the same tune published in 1840 (source). And the third the fife and drum with added flams, possibly omitted in printing, but in keeping with common flam placement in other period manuals.
Wrecker’s Daughter Quickstep – fife and drum
Wrecker’s Daughter Quickstep – fife and drum, with dynamic markings
Wrecker’s Daughter Quickstep – fife and drum, with added flams
Conklin’s Drum Beatings
Conklin’s Drum Beatings has been added to the Resources category. These are from “Col. H.C. Hart’s New and Improved Instructor for the Drum” by Col. H.C. Hart (1862) and includes “Conklin’s 2/4 Flam Tap Beat” and “Conklin’s 2/4 Stick Beat.” These were original drum beatings by Matthew Conklin, Drum Major of Dodworth’s Brass Band, and were included by Hart at the request of an unnamed individual(s).
“Grenadier’s Quickstep”
Grenadier’s Quickstep from “Col. H.C. Hart’s New and Improved Instructor for the Drum“ by Col. H.C. Hart, 1862 has been added to the Resources section under Rudimental Solos. This download includes both the fife and drum part.
“Frog In the Well” Added to Growing Resources Collection
“Frog In the Well” is a Civil War tune based on the folk song “Froggie Went A-courting.” The tune first appeared in the 1611 publication “Melismata – Musicall Phansies Fitting the Court, Citie, and Countrey Humours, To 3, 4, and 5 Voyces.” The first line of the lyrics was: “Twas the Frog in the well… And the merry Mouse in the mill.” This version is from “Col. H.C. Hart’s New and Improved Instructor for the Drum” and includes both the fife and drum parts.
“Frog In the Well” – fife and drum
The “Rogue’s March”
This photo was taken in July or August of 1863 at Morris Island, South Carolina. It depicts the practice of “drumming out” (dishonorably discharged) a soldier, always to the tune of “Rogue’s March.” Being drummed out consisted of having the head shaved, the uniform stripped of all buttons and insignia and then paraded in front of the remaining soldiers. In this photo, the man is wearing a sign which reads:
“THIEF. This man, Benj. F. Ditcher, 55th Mass. Vol’s, STOLE MONEY From A Wounded FRIEND.”
The "rogue's march" - drumming a thief out of camp
The tune “Rogue’s March” dates back to at least 1812, where it appears in “A New, Useful and Complete System of Drum Beating” by Charles Ashworth. In comparing 7 different manuals from 1812 – 1862, the music remained unaltered, with the exception of Bruce and Emmett’s version, in which the order was changed.
I have included the drum and fife parts for the “Rogue’s March” from Hart’s manual (1862). Special thanks to Will Chappell for his assistance in deciphering the drum part.
“Rogue’s March” – Fife and Drum Combined, Fife Only, Drum Only. (These will be added to the Resources page.)
A higher resolution of the above image is available from the Library of Congress.
Civil War Drummers
This photo was taken between 1861 and 1865. It pictures three soldiers of the 2nd Rhode Island Infantry in camp with their drums. A higher resolution image is available for download at the Library of Congress website.
Three soldiers in camp with drums
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